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had read his book with loose attention。 〃I'm pointing out that after fifteen centuries the radical is accepted as the norm。 My translation of the Revelations only seems radical now。 I may have the same luck； but I don't expect to be canonized。〃
Kathryn van Hise said insistently： 〃Gentlemen。〃
Three heads turned to look at her。
〃Please sit down； gentlemen。 We really should get started on this work。〃
〃Now？〃 Saltus asked。 〃Today？〃
〃We have already lost too much time。 Sit down。〃
When they were seated； the irrepressible Arthur Saltus turned in his chair。 〃She's a hard taskmaster； mister。 A martinet； a despot…but she's trim for all of that。 A really shipshape civilian； not an ordinary government girl。 We call her Katrina…she's Dutch； you know。〃
〃Agreed；〃 Chaney said。 He remembered the transparent blouse and the delta pants； and nodded to her in a manner that might be the beginning of a bow。 〃I treasure a daily beauty in my life。〃 The young woman colored。
〃To the point！〃 Saltus declared。 〃I'm beginning to have ideas about you； civilian researcher。 I thought I recognized that first one you pulled； that candle thing。〃
〃Bartlett is a good man to know。〃
〃Look； now； about your book； about those scrolls you translated。 How did you ever get them declassified？〃
〃They were never classified。〃
Saltus showed his disbelief。 〃Oh； they had to be！ The government over there wouldn't want them out。〃
〃Not so。 There was no secrecy involved； the documents were there to read。 The Israeli government kept ownership of them； of course； and now the scrolls have been sent to another place for safekeeping for the duration of the war； but that's the extent of it。〃 He glanced covertly at the Major。 The man was listening in sullen silence。 〃It would be a tragedy if they were destroyed by the shelling。〃
〃I'll bet you know where they are。〃
〃Yes； but that's the only secret concerning them。 When the war is over they'll be brought out and put on display again。〃
〃Hey…do you think the Arabs will crack Israel？〃
〃No； not now。 Ten； twenty years ago； they may have； but not now。 I've seen their munitions plants。〃
Saltus leaned forward。 〃Have they got the H…bomb？〃
〃Yes。〃
Saltus whistled。 Moresby muttered： 〃Armageddon。〃
〃Gentlemen！ May I have your attention now？〃
Kathryn van Hise was sitting straight in her chair； her hands resting on the brown envelopes。 Her fingers were interlaced and the thumbs rose to make a pointed steeple。
Saltus laughed。 〃You always have it； Katrina。〃
Her responding frown was a quick and fleeting thing。 〃I am your briefing officer。 My task is to prepare you for a mission which has no precedent in history； but one that is very near culmination。 It is desirable that the project now go forward with all reasonable speed。 I must insist that we begin preparations at once。〃
Chaney asked： 〃Are we working for NASA？〃
〃No； sir。 You are directly employed by the Bureau of Standards and will not be identified with any other agency or department。 The nature of the work will not be made public； of course。 The White House insists on that。〃
He knew a measure of relief when she answered the next question； but it was of short duration。 〃You're not going to put us into orbit？ We won't have to do this work on moon； or somewhere？〃
No； sir。
〃That's a relief。 I won't have to fly？〃
She said carefully： 〃I cannot reassure you on that point； sir。 If we fail to attain our primary objective； the secondary targets may involve flying。〃
〃That's bad。 There are alternatives？〃
〃Yes； sir。 Two alternatives have been planned； if for any reason we cannot acplish the first objective。〃
Major Moresby chuckled at his disfiture。
Chaney asked： 〃Do we just sit here and wait for something to happen…wait for that vehicle to work？〃
〃No； sir。 I will help you to prepare yourself； on the assurance that something will happen。 The testing is nearly pleted and we expect the conclusion at any time。 When it is pleted； all of you will then acquaint yourselves with vehicle operation； and when that is done a field trial will be arranged。 Following a successful field trial； the actual survey will get underway。 We are most optimistic that each phase of the operation will be concluded in good order and in the shortest possible time。〃 She paused to lend emphasis to her next statement。 〃The first objective will be a broad political and demographic survey of the near future； we wish to learn the political stability of that future and the well…being of the general populace。 We may be able to contribute to both by having advance knowledge of their problems。 Toward that end you will study and map the central United States at the turn of the century； at about the year 2000。〃
Saltus： 〃Hot damn！〃
Chaney felt a recurrence of the initial shock he'd known on the beach； this wasn't to be an academic study。
〃We're going up there？ That far？〃
〃I thought I had made that clear； Mr。 Chaney。〃
〃Not that clear；〃 he said with some embarrassment and confusion。 〃The wind was blowing on the beach…my mind was on other things。〃 Hasty side glances at Saltus and the Major offered little fort： one was grinning at him and the other was contemptuous。 〃I had supposed my role was to be a passive one： laying out the guidelines； preparing the surveys and the like。 I had supposed you were using instruments for the actual probe…〃 But he realized how lame that sounded。
〃No； sir。 Each of you will go forward to conduct the survey。 You will employ certain instruments in the field； but the human element is necessary。〃
Moresby may have thought to needle him。 〃Seniority will apply； after all。 We will move up in the proper order。 Myself first； then Art； and then you。〃
〃We expect to launch the survey within three weeks； given the pletion of the testing schedule。〃 Her voice may have held a trace of amusement at his expense。 〃It may be sooner if your training program can be pleted sooner。 A physical examination is scheduled for later this afternoon； Mr。 Chaney； the others have already had theirs。 The examinations will continue at the rate of two per week until the survey vehicle is actually launched。〃
〃Why？〃
〃For your protection and ours； sir。 If a serious defect exists we must know it now。〃
He said weakly： 〃I have the heart of a chicken。〃
〃But I understood you were under fire in Israel？〃
〃That's different。 I couldn't stop the shelling and the work had to be done。〃
〃You could have quit the country。〃
〃No； I couldn't do that…not until the work was done； not until the translation was finished and the book ready。〃
Kathryn van Hise tapped her fingers together and only looked at him。 She thought that was answer enough。
Chaney recalled something she had said on the beach； something she had quoted or inferred from his dossier。 Or perhaps it was that damned puter profile rattling off his supposed resolution and stability。 He had a quick suspicion。
〃Did you read my dossier？ All of it？〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
〃Ouch。 Did it contain information…ah； gossip about an incident on the far side of the New Allen by Bridg